CHM256

TUTORIAL 6: GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS

1. Define :
i. Gravimetric method
ii. Peptization
iii. Digestion process
iv. Precipitating agent
v. Supersaturation solution

2. Explain the difference between:

i. A colloidal and crystalline precipitate
ii. Precipitation and coprecipitation
iii. Precipitation methods and volatilisation methods

3. Justify the purpose of the following steps in gravimetric analysis

i. Digestion
ii. Filtration
iii. Washing
iv. Ignition

4. List the properties of good precipitates.

5. State the 6 basic steps involved in gravimetric analysis.

6. In gravimetric analysis, explained why that crystalline precipitate is more preferred than
the colloidal precipitate.

7. Phosphate ion (PO43-) is determined by converting it to ammonium phosphomolybdate

(NH4)4PO4.12MoO3 (MW=1876.5) precipitate. If 0.2711g sample produced 1.1682g of
precipitate. Calculate the % of (PO43-)

8. A steel sample is analysed for Mn (54.94 g/mol) by precipitating it as Mn3O4 (228.8

g/mol). If 1.52g sample gave 0.126 g Mn3O4, calculate the % of Mn.

9. In one gravimetric analysis to determine the % of Mn from the manganese ore, 0.6443g
manganese ore was found to yield 0.4211 g Mn3O4. Calculate the % of Mn in the ore.

10. Iron in an ore is to be analyzed gravimetrically by weighing as Fe2O3. If the result shows
that the iron content is 11.0% in the ore, what is the mass of sample that must be taken to
obtain 0.1000 g of precipitate?

11. In one gravimetric experiment, 0.4162 g of AgCl is obtained from a 0.9110 g sample of
silver ore. Calculate the percentage of Ag in the ore.

12. In one gravimetric analysis, the aluminum in a 1.2 g sample of impure NH4Al(SO4)2 was
precipitate as hydrous Al2O3.XH2O. The precipitate was filtered and ignited at 1000 ºC to
give anhydrous Al2O3 which weighed 0.1798 g. Calculate the % Al in the sample.
13. In one gravimetric analysis, a sample that weighed 0.810 g is analysed for its phosphorous
(P) content by precipitating the phosphorous as Mg2P2O7. The precipitate is filtered,
washed and weighed. The mass of the precipitate is found to be 0.4250 g.
a. Give two advantages of gravimetric analysis over volumetric analysis.
b. Why must the precipitate be washed?
c. Calculate the percentage of P.

14. A sample of 0.4500 g impure potassium chloride was dissolved in water treated with
excess silver nitrate solution. 0.8402 g of silver chloride was precipitated. What is the
percentage of potassium chloride in the sample?

15. State the difference between gravimetric and volumetric method of analysis.

16. Explain why gravimetric analysis is more accurate than in volumetric analysis.